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B..J.'BRooKsg SEAL AND TAG.

Patented Mayzs, 1882.

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J. BROOKS.

SEAL AND TAG.

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PATENT EDWARD J. BROOKS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO E. J. BROOKS & OO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SEAL AND TAG.

SPECIFICATION forming :part of Letters Patent No. 258,278, dated May 23, 1882.

' Application filed January 12, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that L'EDWARD J. BRooKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orangein the State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Seals and Tags, ot' which the following is a specification. i

The present inventionl relates especially to seals for securing the doors of railway-cars, and to that class of s eals in which shackles of sheet metal are employed, being in part the invention disclaimed in favor of a subsequent application in the specification forming part of my previous application tiled November 3, 1880, and serially numbered 19,994, now in the issue of January 11, 1881.

This application is intended to be in continuance of said previous application as regards all matter described by said disclaimer and all matter withdrawn by amendment from the specitication and drawing of saidprevious application.

The principal object of my present invention is to so combine a seal and tag with an ordinary car-door hasp and staple as to constitute a supplemental fastening device, affordin g a safe provision for leaving the door partly open or partly opening it to ventilate the contents of the car, or` for other purposes, without breaking the seal or defacing the tag, and

so that the tag cannot be separated without breaking or destroying the seal, but can be readily detached for return as a check and for repeated use after the seal-shackle is cut, to which end the first part of my said invention consists essentially in a rigid, or substantially rigid, return-tag, employed or used in combination with a hasp and staple, and with a sheetmetal seal-shackle, in the manner hereinafter specified.

Another object of said iuvention'is to so combine a tag with a sheet-metal seal-shackle as to utilize the printed matter or other permanent marks on the former in rendering it difficult or impossible to fraudulently duplicate a broken or defaced seal; and to this end the second part of my said invention consists in the combination of a tag bearing a permanent number or distinguishing-mark, and a (No model.)

sheet-metal seal-shackle impressed with a corresponding number or mark, substantially as Vhereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specication, Figure 1 is a face view of a seal and tag employed as a supplemental fastening, according to this invention, and illustrating my present claims. Figs. 1x

and ly are longitudinal sections through the respective ends of the shackle or lsealing-strip on the lines w y, Fig. l; and Fig. lZ is a face view ot' the ends of an unused shackle of like description. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 showin each a face view anda longitudinal section of a combined seal and tag, illustrating moditications of the irst part of this invention.. Figs.

'6 and 7 show in each a face view and alongitudinal section of a combined seal and tag illustrating modifications ot' the trrst two parts of said invention. Fig. 8 is a face view of the ends of a one-part sealing-strip and tag unused, and Figs. Sa, Sb, and 8c face views of the saine as pressed -in various ways. Fig. 9 is a face view of another one-part seal and tag, 'and Fig. 9X a face view of the strip from which it was formed; and Figs. 10 and l()x are like views of another one-part seal and tag and the strip from which it was formed. Figs. 8 to 10X, inclusive, with Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate modifications of the second part of said invention.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A preferred combination, embodying both of my present claims, is formed by combining a sheet-metal shackle or sealing-strip, S, Fig. 8 5

lz, having a slotted enlargement, c, at one end to receive its threading end b, and a rigid, or substantially rigid, return-tag, T, having contracted horizontal slots, c, one or more, to receive said threading end b, with each other and with an ordinary car-door hasp, H, having a slot, d, and with the staple s, which coacts with said hasp and an ordinary padlock in securin g the car-door, as illustrated by Figs. l, 1X, and ly. In uniting the parts the shackle S is run through the staples, and its threading end b is run through the end c, the shackle being thus attached at one end to the staple by a slip-loop, as shown by Fig. 1X. The threading end b of the shackle is then run through the slot d ot' the hasp H, supposingv the latter to be oft' the staple s, and through the slots c c of the tag, and is pressed or stamped, so as to prevent its Withdrawal through the latter.

Being designed for return as a check and for repeated use, the tag T has thereon the number- 20, for example-of a sealing-station, and the protruding portion ofthe sin gle threading end of the shackle is provided with a corresponding` number in high relief, as shown at e, by means of the sealing-press, to constitute its retaining-projections.

If the door 1) be sealed partly open, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, it may at any time after sealing be closed, and the hasp H and a padlock, P, applied to the staple s, as shown in dotted lines; or, it' the door is closed when sealed, it may afterward be partly opened without breaking the seal or defacing the tag, the shackle enlargement t passing freely through the slot d of the hasp, While the rigid, or substantially rigid, tag precludes the escape of the hasp, being held on the shackle by the Aretaining-projections e, which will not pass through the slots c. When the hasp is locked on the staples it will be observed the shackle is attached to said staple outside of the hasp.

After the shackle is cut the pressed shackle end is readily Withdrawn, leaving the tag smooth and unimpaired for return as a check through a central oftice to the place of issue for repeated use. A plurality of threadingholes relieves the retaining-projections on the shackle,or any substitute therefor, from undue strain when the device is used as a fastening;

. but a plurality of threading-holes is not essential to any part ot' my present invention.

The construction of my rigid, or substantially rigid, return-tag with a single threadinghole, and its combination with plain or lettcrcd sheet-metal shackles of ordinary form, secured by common and inferior means for combination with a hasp and staple, as above described, is illustrated by Figs. 2 to 7, inclusive, the same reference-letters being used for corresponding parts, with numbers distinguishing those shown in different iigures.

In the example shown by Figs. 2, 3, and 4 only one end of the shackle is run through the tag, as in the first example, and this end is secured against withdrawal by uniting it with the other end at the sealing operation. frepresents eyelet-punching; g,interthreading and crimping, and h lead riveting, as examples 0f old means for uniting the shackle ends.

In the example shown by Fig. 5 only one end of the shackle is run through the tag; but both ends are run through a contracted slot in a sheet-metal keeper, K, and provided with pressed or stamped retaining-projections i on each protruding end to prevent the withdrawal of the shackle ends or either of them. In this .modification of the mode of sealing claimed in my previous specification, hereinbefore referred to, the keeper K coacts with the retainin g-projections to unite the endsot' the shackle, and the retaining-projections are formed partly by raised characters forming distinguishing numbers and partly by offsets above said characters operating to relieve the latter ordinarily from strain, and thus to prevent the accidental defacement thereof'. The keeper K may in an inferior sub-modication be used as a substitute for the tag, in combination with a pressed shackle having each protruding end provided with retaining-projections.

In the examples shown by Figs. 6 and 7 both ends ofthe shackle are run through the tag, as in the examples described in said previous specification. j and jz represent differ:- ent methods ot' preventing the Withdrawal of the ends by means of simple folds secured by pressing. n

All that is necessary to carry out the first part ot' my invention is that the parts be so constructed and combined as to adapt the seal and tag for use as a supplemental fastening in the manner illustrated by Fig. 1, the tag being in all cases rigid, or substantially rigid, and ot' sufficient size to precludeits passage through the slot of the hasp, and adapted to be freed from the sheet-metal shackle in the same manner as the hasp When the shackle is cut, and Without being liable to defacement in the operation, so that it may be returned and repeatedly used as stated, the shackle alone lbearing the seal-impression or seal-disk.

The seals and tags S6 T6 and SlT7 are made secure according to the second part of this i11- vention, the folded retaining-projections ofthe shackle ends being -provided at the pressing operation with impressed numbers or marks e2 c3, corresponding With permanent numbers or marks upon the tags. In order to replacea broken seal thus secured, a particular press of a given series is required, and, moreover, a shackle of a particular kind to receive the impression. I thus avail myself' of the capacity of sheet-metal shackles to be manufactured of peculiar patterns and with permanent distinguishing marks printed thereon or otherwise applied thereto, as in the examples, or with either of these means or other means of identiication, and also of the permanent numbers or marks and other printed'matter or the like on tlie'tags to insure the detection of Vany attempt to fraudulently replace a broken seal, and this Withoutmaterially increasingthe cost of the seals and tags or complicating their use by authorized otcers. This second part or feature of my invention is shown in Figs. l, 6, and 7 as applied-to seals and tags ofthe return-tag type. It is also applicable to onepart seals and tags, as illustrated by Figs. Sto 10X, inclusive.

S8 T8 represent a sheet-metal sealing-strip of uniform Width, save at one end, b, which is notched to make it ot T shape, being the threading end. Near its other end a thread- IOO IIO

ing-hole, e8, in the shape of a narrow longitudinal slot enlarged at mid-length, is cut in that portion which is printed `or embossed to constitute the tag, termed the tag portion.7 This strip is passed through a staple or the like, and its ends are interthreaded, and in this state it is temporarily attached, so as to be conveniently pressed. At the pressing operation the threaded end may simply receive the number or mark corresponding with a permanent number or mark on the tag in the form of embossed retaining-projections, as shown at c", for example; or it may be folded and t stamped therewith in depressed characters, as

shown at ef",- or it may be secured against withdrawal by means of eyelet-punching or the like, and at the same time stamped with the distinguishingnumber or mark, as shown at e. As a sub-modification the threading-hole of the strip S8 T8 may be of a different shaperound, for example-and the threading end tubular, the latter to be flattened out to prevent its withdrawal and at the saine timeimpressed Vwith the distinguishing number or mark. In

either case the same result is accomplished in substantially one and the same way.

S9 T9 represent another one-part sheet-metal sealing-strip, forming a one-part seal and tag. The threading end b9 is a plain narrow tongue in this case, and the threading-hole o9 is a 1ongitudinal slot having lips formed at its longitudinal edges to embrace the edges of the threading` end, the latter being held against withdrawal by eyelet-punching, and secured at the same time by stamping it with the distin guishing number or mark e9 Within the slot.

S1U Tx0 represent still another pattern of sheet-metal scaling-strip, forming a one-part seal and tag, which embodies the second feature of my present invention. In this last modification lateral lingers bw and interspaces c1" take the place of a threading end and hole, the fingers on each part being folded within the interspaces of the other to prevent the separation of the ends, while the face of the strip is provided with an impressed number or distinguishing mark, el, corresponding with permanent number or mark-X 50, for exampleon the tag portion in the act of pressing the lingers. The impressed number is in this case on the tag portion; but this is integral with the shackle portion.

The shackles S S2 S3 S5 S6 S'I and the onepart sealing-strips and tags S8 T8 S9 T9 Sm T1 must be made of sheet metal, which willbreak or crack 1f unbent, and restamped after it is once pressed. Suitable tin-plate77 is readily selected.

The return-tags T T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 TT and the keeper K may be made of any preferred material which will render them rigid, or substantially rigid, and adapted for the exposure, &c., incident to their use, stiff tin-plate being used by preference.

The numbers and lettering or permanent marks are preferably printed, and in carrying out the second part of this invention, when the return-tags are used, I prefer to provide the shackles also with lettering, as represented in Figs. 1, 6, and 7.

For a fuller statementof various inodes of manufacture I refer to my said previous specification.

I do not claim herein, broadly, the combination of a tag with asheet-metal shackle, as this is fully described in my specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 178,722, dated June 13, 1876.

Neither do I claim herein, broadly, a tag attached to a seal-shackle so as to be readily separated therefrom when the shackle is cut, as a previous example of this is shown in the ber 7, 1875. l

Neither do I claim herein, broadly, a rigid,l

or substantially rigid, tag bearing a permanent number or distinguishing mark, and having one or more threading-holes in the form of horizontal slots, per se, in view of the baggagechecks of this description commonly used.

Neither do I claim herein,broadly, impressing the seal with a number or distinguishing mark corresponding with a permanent number or mark on an attached tag, as a lead sealdisk so impressed is described in my specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,008, dated October 15, 1878.

Neither do I claim herein any part or combination described or shown in the amended specification and drawings of my said previous application, No. 19,994, tiled November 3,

ICO

1880, save the two combinations therein dis- 4 claimed in favor of this application.

vention is- 1. A rigid, or substantially rigid, returntag bearing a permanent number or distinguishin g mark, and having one or more threading-holes in theform of horizontal slots, as herein specilied, in combination with a sheetmetal seal-shackle and an ordinary car-door hasp and staple, substantially as herein described, the combination being such that the tag is attached to the staple by thesealed shackle, and the hasp is secured on the shackle by the tag, so as to provide for leaving the door open, or for partlyopening the door, and for freely separating the tag from the cut shackle for return as a check and for repeated use.

2. The combination, in a seal and tag, of a tag bearing a permanent number or distinguishing mark and a sheet-metal seal-shackle impressed with a corresponding `number or mark, substantially as herein speciiied, for the purpose set forth. i

EDWARD J. BROOKS.

Witnesses:

AR'rnMAs B. SMITH, EUGENE J. Dnvnn. 

